Improvement in bomb-harpoons



CHARLES FREEMAN. Improvement in Bomb-Harpoons. N 125 3 3 4 Patented Ma y7,1872'..

Urzrrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREEMAN, OF BREWSTER, MASSAUHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOMB-HARPOONS.

T0 allpcrsons to whom these presents may come:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREEMAN, of Brewster, of the county of Barnstable, of the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Bomb-Harpoon, to be used by whalem en or others in capturing whales or fish; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawing, of which- Figure l is a side elevation 3 Fig. 2 an edge view; and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of it. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus for setting back the striker or cock.

The bomb-harpoon, as represented, consists of a tubular or chambered shank, A, a brace or foot, D, a striker or percussioncock, 0, its

----ecti1ating spring D, a pivoted lever-fluke, E,

and its dog F, and hollow lance-shaped bomb G, all being arranged as shown.

The shank A is chambered, as represented at a, to receive the percussion-striker or cock 0 and its helical spring D, disposed together and in the chamber, in manner as indicated. the striker near its lower end being provided with a shoulder, 12. The pointed lever-fluke E is pivoted to the shank, the pivot 0r hinge-pin being shown at 0. The said lever-fluke stands immediately in rear of the lance-bomb G, and is provided with a dog or bolt, E, which, hinged to the shorter arm of the leverfluke, extends through a hole in the shank and into the chamber a. Furthermore, the shank A has the brace or foot B projected from it in manner and formed as represented, such brace or foot serving various purposes-via, as a means of support to the lance-bomb, and to centralize the shank in the path cut by the lance-bomb while itmay be entering the body of a whale, and also while the movable fluke is entering such body. The brace operates to insure the movable or trigger-fluke being turned on its pivot in a manner to draw back the bolt, and thereby set free the striker or cook, in order for its spring to force it smartly against the percussion-cap, priming, or fuse of the bomb, which is shown at d, as arranged in a primin g-tube or head, 0, extended from the bomb into the chamber a of the shank. The brace or foot B also serves as a stationary fluke, or when the harpoon is in a whale such brace operates in maintaining it thereon, the movable fluke intheharpoon whilebein g pulled backward being hooked into the animal. In order to connect the bomb Gto the shank A a pin, f, is passed laterally through the shank, and a groove, 9, in the side of the head e,- and furthermore, a pin, h, is passed through the toe of the brace B into the bomb. The said bomb G is to be chambered to receive a charge of gunpowder, or any other proper explosive material, the bomb being lance-shapedor, in other words, pointed, as shown at z, and provided with sharp or knife-edges It It. In order to set back the striker or cook an apparatus, shown in Fig. 4, may be used to advantage, it consisting of a lever, I, a stirrup, K, and a plunger, L, both the latter being pivoted to the lever, and arranged therewith, and formed as represented. In using the apparatus or striker setter, as it may be termed, the plunger is to be inserted in the mouth of the chamber a, and the toe of the brace B is to be inserted in the stirrup K. This having been done, a person grasping the longer arm of the lever I can move it so as to cause the plunger to press back the striker far enough for the dog of the trigger-fluke to be moved inward, and with the shoulder of the striker hold. the latter, set or cooked! To prevent the striker from being accidentally discharged a hole, m, is made laterally through the. shank to receive a pin, the position of such hole being as shown. When the pin is in place it will stop theadvance of the striker. Just previous to the harpoon being thrown into a whale this pin is to be withdrawn from the hole.

For enabling a person to draw back the striker the latter may be provided with a curved arm to extend from it through a slot made lengthwise in the shank, and leading out of h the chamber thereof, the curved arm projecting out of the slot. I have represented such an arm and the slot by dotted lines in the drawing, although it is by no means preferable to the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, as it is liable to impede the introduction or passage of the harpoon into the body of the whale.

.1 olaiIn-- 1. The combination of thelance-bomb G, the chambered shank A, the striker O, and its actuatin g spring D, and the trigger lever-fluke E,

and its bolt F, all being arranged in manner as specified.

2. I also claim in the bomb-harpoon, as described, the chambered shank A, provided with the brace B, arranged and combined with it; and to give support to the lance-bomb, sub stantially as hereinbefore explained.

' CHAS. FREEMAN.

WVitnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW. 

